Thorax 2000;55:907–912
907
Randomised controlled trial of supported discharge in patients with exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease E Skwarska, G Cohen, K M Skwarski, C Lamb, D Bushell, S Parker, W MacNee
Respiratory Medicine Unit, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK E Skwarska K M Skwarski C Lamb D Bushell W MacNee Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK G Cohen S Parker Correspondence to: Professor W MacNee, Respiratory Medicine Unit, Colt Research Laboratories, Wilkie Building, Medical School, Teviot Place, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK
[email protected] Received 17 February 2000 Returned to authors 17 May 2000 Revised version received 5 June 2000 Accepted for publication 23 June 2000
Abstract Background—A randomised trial was performed on patients presenting to hospital with an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to compare outcomes in those managed at home with support with those admitted to hospital in the standard manner. Methods—Over an 18 month period all patients presenting to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh on weekdays (n=718) with a diagnosis of an exacerbation of COPD were assessed for inclusion in the trial. Patients with impaired level of consciousness, acute confusion, acute changes on radiography, or an arterial pH of
